Trap



May 18,1928. 1,585,568

Y H. SOULE TRAP Filled DSC. 50, 1924 2 shew-:s sheet l May 18,1926. i 1,585,568

H.SOULE TRAP Filed Dec. 30, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patente-d May 18, 1926.

PATENT FFICE..

H ENRY SOULE, OF DWGHT, NORTH DAKOTA.

TRAP.

Application filed December 30, 1924. Serial No. 758,883.

This invention relates to improvements in animal traps.

The primary object of this invention is the provision of a spring operated animal trap embodying novel operating means for main gripping and body holding sets of jaws.

A further and important object of this invention is the provision of improved means adapted to cooperate with the tripping of the jaws of the trap in order to cause the trap to jump and insure the capture of an animal. l

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following detailed description.

In the accompanying drawings. forming a part of this specification, and wherein similar reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved trap, showing it set.

Figure 2 is a cros's sectional view taken substantially longitudinally of the improved trap, showing the same set.

Figure 3 is a perspective viewof the improved trap substantially in a position which the same will assume when holding an animal.

Figure 4: is a cross sectional view taken longitudinally of the trap in its released position.

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken substantially on the line 5 5 of Figure 4.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of villustration is shown only a preferred embodiment of the trap, the letter A may generally designate the same, which may include a frame B; main gripping jaws and operating means C; auxiliary or body gripping jaws and operating means D; and movable bait receiving means E.

The frame B is preferably formed of any approved grade of material, preferably metal, and comprises the elongated frame body 10, formed of one or more pieces, and which at one end thereof is flanged, as at 11, at right angles to the body, and at the opposite end is upwardly flanged at right angles, at 12. An elongated slot'13 is provided in the body 10 to permit a substantially U- shaped crank portion 15, which is movably carried at the free bifurcated end 16 of the trap jumping spring 17 to extend upwardly thru said slot 13, for the purpose of receiving the pivoted catch 20, as will be subsequently described.

The spring 17 is connected as by rivets 21 to the bottom surface of the frame body 10, and at its free end normally extends in downwardly dliverging relation from the plane of the body 10, and the same is of sufficient resiliency to cause the entire trap to be thrown upwardly when the spring 17 is' suddenly released from its collapsed position along the frame, as is illustrated in Figure 2, to the extended position of said spring as illustrated in Figure t.

Referring to the main jaw structure C, a substantially U-shaped bracket 25 is riveted, as by the rivets 21, upon the top surface of the frame body 10, and this bracket 25 provides an upstanding flange 26 in spaced parallel relation with the end iange 12, and also provides an upstanding right angled flange 28 parallel with the flange 26, between the flange 2G and the slot 13. This flange 28 is provided with suitable transverse openings to pivotally receive ends 30 of the main jaws 31 and 32, at an end of each of said main aws. At the opposite ends 33 the main jaws 31 and 32 are pivoted to an upstanding bracket 35, secured as by rivet 36 to the body 10; said bracket 35 extending at right angles to the body 10, at the opposite side of the slot 13 with respect to the flange 28. rThe jaws 31 and 32 are preferably U-shaped, and are pivotally connected at their ends 30 and 33 to the brackets 23 and 35. rlfhese jaws may be of any approved construction, and materials', and as illustrated in the drawings they provine smooth jaw edges, but they may be toothed, if desired.

A main operating spring structure 33 may be provided for moving the aws 31 and to clamping position, and this main spring 33 is very strong, and includes a. bottom leaf .5r-O, secured intermediate its ends as by the rivet 36 and other rivets Ll0, at the lower surface of the body 10; at right angles to the body l0, and at each end thereof projecting beyond the side edges of said body 10. The laterally projecting portions of this bottom leaf 4i() bow upwardly, as is illustrated in Figure 5 of the drawings, and at the outer edges of said transverse spring leaf 40, the saine is rolled for connection to the rolled ends of the top spring leaf 42; connecting pins :11S-3 preferably also securing the leaves l() and yat th free ends. The top spring lea" 2 extends in spaced relation above the frame l0, and is not directly connected to .said body 1G, Between its ends .said top leaf l2 is provided with an elongated slot it therein, and it is to be noted that the top leaf l2 is disposed above the bracket 35, so that when the top leaf d2 is depressed, as by dmvnwardly flexing the projecting ends of the bottom leaf d0, said bracket 35 nay extend upwardly through the slotlt is to be noted that the ends of the clamping jaws 31 and "2 extend Ulu through the slot 46 for connection to the bracket 35.

The resiliency of the spring structure 3S is snilicient to force the top leaf upwardly so that the bracket 35 does` not extend through saidslot, and to bring` the jaws 31 and 32 into engagement with the end edges of the slot 46, for forcing said jaws 31 and 232 into substantially vertical clamping relation. Then the spring leaves 40 and hl2 are collapsed, the bracket lies within the slot 4G, andthe main jaws 3l and 32 may then be collapsed into horizontal position, substantially as is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.

In order to hold the leaves 4i() and 42 of the main spring structure 38 in a set position, the catch member 20 is provided, which may be of a good grade of'material, pivoted as at 50 to the side portion of the topinost leaf 42 which faces the slot 13. This member 2O yis narrow enough to extend down wardly through the slot 13, and into the space between the bifurcated end 1G of the jump spring 17, and is provided with a bight 52 so that the said member 2() may be slipped through the pivoted crank 15 of the spring 17, and at its free end be brought upwardly above the body l0, to. collapse the spring 1T along the body 10; and at its free end said catch 2O being` received within a socket 55 provided by the bait receiving deviceE, in orderthatsaid bait receiving device E will act somewhat as a trigger.

The bait receiving device E includes the box portion 5S, which may provide a suitable open compartment 59 to receive bait. It furthemore includes a supporting arm 60, which may be of suitable spring material, secured to the boi; 58, and providing the socket 55 above mentioned, in facing relation toward the slot 13. At its end the arm 60 is downturned substantially at right angles to the box 58, and is pivoted at its free end G1 to the body 10 of the frame B, at an end of the slot 13. Then the spring leaves 40 and are collapsed to permit the main jaws 31 and to open, the action of the springs 38 and 17 `will exert a downward pressure at the free end of the member 20,

leemos arising the bait box 5S to elevate above the body 10, substantially in a horizontal position as is illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, and so that by very slight touch upon the box 58, the saine will cause the arm 20 to be released, and permit the springs 17 and 3S to release.

vReferring to the auxiliary jaw structure l), the same preferably includes a pair of wire bodygripping jaws and (lo, which are substantially Li-Shaped, and considerably larger than the main jaws 231 and 32. At their Yfrontends these jaws G5 and GG provide the end portions G7 which are pivoted as at 68 to the end flange 11 of the body 10, and in spaced forward relation with respect to the front pivoted'ends of the main jaws 31 and 'the jaws G5 and 66 at the opposite ends provide the portions 79 which pivotally extend through suitable openings provided inthe bracket flange 2G, and provide the straight shaft portions 8() in spaced parallel relation above the body l0, which at their free ends bear in the upstanding flange l2. rllhese shaft portions 8() receive spiral expansion springs 82 and S5 t-hereabout, respectively, for the jaws (53 and 66. The adjacent ends of cach of said sorings 82 and are connected to the flange 12 in any approved manner, or to the body 1G, and at their opposite ends said springs S2 and S3 provide the outwardly extending portions S6 and 87, slidably connected to the ends 79 of the jaws (35 and GU respcctively, so that upon the opening of the jaws 65 and 6G said springs will be compressed and normally urge the auxiliary body gripping jaws G5 and 6G to upwaroly extending` body clamping relation, substantially as is illust VGated in Figures 3 and l of the drawings.

Means is provided to hold the jaws-(35 and 66 in open position, and this means comprises a ytransverse member 88, which may be resilient in nature, connected intermedate its ends to the body 10, at the extreme frontof the body 10, Qreferably forwardly ofthe spring 38. The said member 88 vis about as long as the bottom leaf 40 of the spring structure 88, preferably even slightly longer, and at the outer ends of the same it pivotally supports the jaw cooperating catch arms 90 and 91. A pivoted arm or member 92 is carried by the body 10 at the front end thereof, as at 94, so that the free end thereof may be moved to extend just slightly in overlapped relation by the top leaf l2 of the main spring 38.

Referring to the action of the auxiliary jaws 65 and 66 in set position, and to the operation thereof, said jaws 65 and 6G when open, as above mentioned will tension the springs 82 and 83. The arms 90 and 91 are respectively extended over said open jaws 65 and 66, and at their free ends are then lill.)

placed beneath the member 92, so that when said member 92 is held collapsed on the body 10, as is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the arms 90 and `91 will be maintained in a fixed relation with the body 10, at their free ends, to prevent openv ing of the jaws 65 and 66. The member 92 is held in this position to prevent its release movement by means of the compressed position of the main spring structure 38, in the relation above mentioned.

A chain or cable 100 may be connected, as by a staple 101, to the rear end flange 12 of the frame B, and at its free end said cable 100 may be secured to a ground inserting spiral shaped wire screw 102 or analogous ground or article inserting member.

From the foregoing description of this invention it will be apparent just how the improved trap A operates. As the animal approaches the trap .to snatch the bait held by the receiver E, unintentionally the animal will of course move the box 58 slightly downward, releasing the free end of the catch 20 from its socket 55. Immediately the main spring 38 springs upwardly, and the top leaf 42 thereof engages the main jaws 31 and 32 snapping them upwardly into collapsed catching position. Simultaneous with this action the bottom spring 17 is released by release of the member 20, and this bottom spring 17 is sharply7 forced downward, incident to its inherent spring, and the entire trap is thrown bodily upwardly to further insure that the animal is clamped by the upper springing of the main jaws 31 and 32. Also, simultaneous with this action the upward springing of the top leaf 42 of the main spring 38 will release the catch member 92 at its free end, and incident to the action of the springs 82 and 83 the auxiliary or body gripping jaws and 66 will be swung upwardly, since the arms and 91 will be released upon rclease of the` catch member 92, and may swing upwardly to permit the swinging of the auxiliary jaws 65 and 66 into body clamping position.

The improved trap A presents a very compact assemblage of parts. 1t is to be noted that the spring operation is particularly valuable, and the jaw operation while sufficient to catch the animal and prevent the animal freeing itself from the inner or main clamping jaws, said jaw system and spring operating means is yet of such a nature that the same will not mutilate the animal or permit the animal to mutilate itself. The trap is one which can lie comparatively fiat upon a ground surface, so as not to arouse the suspicion of the animal approaching the same.

Various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention without departing from the spirit of the same or the scope of the claims.

l claim:

1. An animal trap comprising an elongated narrow frame, a plurality of jaws pivotally carried by said frame, a transverse main spring structure having` an opening therethrough through which the said jaws extend so that said jaws will be supported in proximate clamping relation when the spring is extended, a movable bait receiving member carried by the frame, and a catch member movably carried by said spring for connection with said bait receiving member to hold the spring compressed and permit the opening of said jaws.

2. A trap comprisinga frame, a pair of clamping jaws pivotally carried by said frame, a transverse leaf spring connected with said frame and intermediate its ends providing a slot adapted to receive the ends of said jaws therethrough, and releasable catch means adapted for connection with the fra-me to hold said leaf spring compressed and permit opening of the jaws, said spring when moving te extended position being adapted to engage said jaws to sharply close the same for clamping an animal therebetween. u

A trap comprising ,a frame, clamping jaws movably carried by the frame a transverse main spring structure including a bottom leaf secured intermediate its ends to said frame and a top leaf secured at its ends to said bottom leaf and otherwise being free of said frame, said top leaf having an opening therein through which the ends of said jaws extend to hold the jaws in clamped position when the topleaf is extended, and releasable catch means to hold said vleaf of the spring compressed to permit opening of said jaws.

1. A trap comprising a frame, clamping jaws movably carried by the frame, a transverse main spring structure including a bottom lea-f secured intermediate its ends to said frame and a top leaf secured at its ends to the ends of said bottom leaf and otherwise being free of said frame, said top leaf having an opening therein through which the ends of said jaws extend to hold thel jaws in clamped position when the top leaf is extended, releasable catch means to hold said leaves of the spring compressed to permit opening of said jaws, and a spring carried below said frame adapted to be held collapsed by said releasable catch means and upon release of said catch means to force the trap bodily upwardly,

5. A trap comprising a frame having an opening therein, a pair of substantially U- shaped clamping jaws pivotally carried upwardly of said frame, a main spring structure including a transversely extending upper spring leaf providing an opening therein through which` the ends: ofA said jaws ext-endVV whereby when the leaf is extended said2 jawsf by said-frameincluding a. socket adapted to'recei'vethe free moving end of said catch member` whereby to hold the same in positi'onl to collapse said jaw operating spring andthe spring below said 'frame i 6; In' a trap'the combination of a frame providing an opening therein, substantially U-'shaped clamping j aws4 pi'votally connected at their ends to said' traina` almain spring including a., transversely exten ding resilient top lea-f providing anopening through wliichltheadjacent ends ot' saidr jaws extend when the'main spring is extended iyx'fhereby to hold said jaws `in aclamping relation, a catchmemberpivota'lly carried by said leaf of the main spring, a ump spring resiliently supported below the :tramegafmember movably projecting. from thef jumpv spring adapted-to beengagedby the catch member intermediatethe" ends of the latter when the maint spring iscollapsed, andA a bait receiving member including 'a' socket adapted to receive Athe end of the catch member whereby to'hold the samefin' position with said' springs collapsed andthe jaws open;

7. In a trap the'combination' ot* a supporting frame7 a paiir'ofv main gripping jaws pivotally connectedv with the frame, main spring` means normally operatingto hold the main jaws in2 clamping position,

catch means' for said mains'pring means; bodyv gripping jaws pivotallycarried by said frame, spring means normally forcing the same closedVa-rms pi-votally associated with the trame adapted to berfolded in position to hold the body gripping jaws open against tension of their springs, and av movable catchr member for holding' said arms in position to hold the said body gripping jaws open',` said last mentioned catch member being adapted? tobeheld' in such position by said main ,spring only when the main spring is collapsed.

8. In a trap the combination of a relatively narrow elongated 'rame providing a slot longitudinally therein, a jump spring carried by the frame therebelow adapted when released to force the frame upwardly, projecting means movably carried by said jump spring adapted to extend upwardlyl through the slot of said frame, main jaws pivotally connected upwardly of the frame7 a transverse*main'leat spring carried iby the frame having an opening therein through which ends of said main jaws extend whereby the maink leali' will collapse said jaws in clamping position when the main spring is extended, a pivoted catch member carried by said'main spring adapted' to be inserted through the projection' of the jump' spring. whenv it is extended upwardly thro-ugh the slot of said :trame, and -Ymovable bait receivingl means carried by the trame including a socket adapted to receive the free' end oli said catch member whereby to hold the'jump spring and main spring collapsed.

9.'An animal trap comprising a narrow elongated framea a pair of substantially U-shaped main jaws pivoted at their ends upon said trame for swinginig transversely of the longitudinal axis of the frame, spring means Vnormally urging said jaws into' clamping closed relation, trip means to hold said spring means inoperative when the jaws' are open', body gripping jaws pivoted on the frame', spring means lacting to force the body 'gripping jafws closed, a transverse member connected between its ends on the frame and extending-laterally from said frame to'each side thereof, arms pivoted'at the ends of said member swingable towards each otherI andtowards the frame to embrace said'body gripping jaws to' hold them open, said arms when so engagingA the body gripping' jaws to hold them open having the free ends thereof disposed-in adjacent relation to said iframe,A and releasable catch means to hold the :tree ends of said arms in such relation,` said releasable catch' means being releasably held by the 'spring means of the main jaws l when thev latter are opened.4

HENRY SOULE. 

